Fully updated and expanded throughout, this second edition of Film Theory: The Basics provides an accessible introduction to the key theorists, concepts, and debates that have shaped the study of moving images.

Kevin McDonald is a Lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies at California, Northridge where he teaches popular culture and cultural studies. He is the co-editor of The Netflix Effect: Technology and Entertainment in the 21st Century. He writes about film theory, contemporary Hollywood, and the political economy of streaming media.

Introduction 1. Theory Before Theory, 1915-1960 2. French Theory, 1949-1968 3. Screen Theory, 1969-1996 4. Post-Theory, 1996-2015 5. Theory After Film Theory